Automatic apron or belt guiding mechanism



June 2-7, 1933. w. J. ASHER AUTOMATIC APRON OR BELT GUIDING MECHANISMFiled Dec. 5, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ju ne:-2 7,"' 933. w J. ASHER 9 3AUTOMATIC APRON OR BELT GUIDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 5, 1931 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 27, 1933 UNITE STATES WILLIAM J. ASHER, OFCOLORADQ SPRINGS, COLOR-A130 AUTOMATIC APRON OR BELT GUIDING MECHANISM IApplicationfiled December 5, 1931. Serial No. 579,301.

The present invention relates to belt or web guiding mechanisms,particularly to mechanisms of this character designed and intended tomaintain in constant and proper alignment a belt, web, or apron of felt,wire, canvas, or other suitable material, generally of the endless typeand used in connection with laundry, paper making, or analogous Hmachines.

A number of machines of various types now used in the industrial artsinclude as operative elements thereof belts, webs, or aprons ofendlesscharacter which pass over uide rolls continuously in onedirection in the operation of the machine to which they are applied.Ironing machines of the laundry type, for instance, commonly employendless felt aprons, each of which, in the operation of the machine,follows a closed path passing over a number of rollers. It is notpractical to positively confine the felt apron against lateral movementupon the rollers, and it sometimes occurs that the apron has a tendencyto move laterally relative to the supporting rollers by reason of thefact that greater thicknesses of goods being ironed are fed to one sideof the machine, and hence carried by one side of the apron,

than are fed to the opposite side. Other factors are sometimesinfluential in effecting lateral movement of a belt or apron of thischaracter. It goes without saying that such lateral movements of belts,webs,"or aprons of laundry or other machines are highly undesirableinasmuch as it may, unless limited in some manner, result in theprojection of the edge of the same beyond the end of the supportingroller, engagement with other operating or stationary parts of themachine, and hence injury or total destruction.

It has heretofore been suggested that guiding mechanism may be employed,by means of which an endless belt, web, or apron may be maintained inproper alignment upon its 1) supportlng rolls, and 1t has also beensuggested, for instance in my prior Patent No. 813,995, granted February27, 1906, that mechanisms of this character may be designed so as to befully automatic in their operation. The present invention relates signedor suggested which render the device particularly to fully automaticmechanisms of this character and contemplates a number of improvementsover those heretofore demore sensitive in operation than thoseheretofore designed or employed, to the end that the lateral movementsof the belt or web are minimized, and also simpler in construction andlessliable to constitute a hazard for the attendants or machineoperatives.

The invention may have various embodiments, and in the accompanyingdrawings two such embodiments are illustrated. It will be appreciated,however, that those forms of the invention illustrated, and which willbe hereinafter described in detail, are set forth byway of exampleonly.

' In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved L belt, web, or apronguiding mechanism;

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig-' ure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of the same, partially broken away; Figure 4 isan end View of a somewhat modified form of guide mechanism; and

' Figure 5 is a section on line 55 of Figure 4.

As has been heretofore explained, the invention may be designed forapplication to various types of machines, such as paper making machines,ironing machines of the laundry type, and the like, and in fact almostanywhere where it is highly important that traveling belts or webs bemaintained traversing a fixed path without at the same time providingany means for positively limiting lateral movement thereof. In adaptingthe invention to various types of machines, the design and arrangementof the component elements thereof may be modified considerably withoutdeparture from its underlying principles. For instance, that form of theinvention which is disclosed in r the first three figures of thedrawings is primarily intended for use in connection with an ironingmachine of the rotary drum or stationary chest. type, having arelatively low speed of travel of the apron or aprons w ich areused withsuch machines. On 100 the other hand, that form of the inventiondisclosed in Figures 4 and 5 is more particularly suited for use withmachines such as paper making machines in which the speed of travel ofthe belt, or belt forming wire or other such element, is relativelyhigh. Other adaptations of the principles of the invention may be easilymade.

The guide roll of the mechanism disclosed in Figures 1, 2, and 3 isindicated'at 10, this roll being horizontally disposed and having acylindrical surface over which the belt, web, or apron, indicated at 11,passes, this apron having its direction of movement changed by the rolland being under some tension so as to bear tightly against the roll. Theroll 10 is freely rotatable and,

in the normal operation of the mechanism,

is rotated by the apron and at the same speed. At its ends the guideroll 10 is provided with coaxial spindle-like extensions or necks,indicated at 12 and 13 respectively. Neck 13 has a reduced portion whichis rotatably supported in a bearing 14, which bearing is in turn mountedupon the upper end of a vertical rod 15, this rod 15 having a rotatingand sliding fit with the cylindrical inner wall of a socket 16 supportedby means of a bracket 17 from a portion of the frame of the machine, theframe being diagrammatically indicated at 18.

By the mechanism just described, the neck 13 is supported for freerotary motion about the axis of the roll while at the same time it maybe swung or oscillated in a horizontal plane about the axis of the pivotrod 15. By means of a set screw 19, which bears against the lower end ofthe pivot rod, this rod, the bearing 14, and hence the adjacent end ofthe roll may be given slight vertical'adjustments if desired. At theopposite end of the roll, the neck 12 is provided with a reduced endportion which projects'within and is rotatably supported by a secondbearing member 20, which bearing is supported upon a fiat base member 21slidable along a horizontally disposed guiding surface 22 formed on theframe of the machine. Bearing 20 may therefore be advanced or retractedhorizontally through limited distances, the bearing swinging in suchmovements about the axis of the pivot rod 15.

The housing of bearing 20 is projected upwardly at 23, and extendingthrough a cylindrical aperture formed in this projection 23 is a stud24, the inner end of which projects within a roller or ball bearing 25and the outer end of which is threaded to receive a securing nut 26.Bearing 25, which surrounds the inner end of stud 24, in turn carries arocking lever 27 disposed in a vertical plane transverse to the axis ofthe roller and adapted to oscillate, in the operation of the device,about the axis of stud 24 through limited distances. Two pawls areindicated at 30 and 31 respectively, these pawls having their outer endssuspended by flexible members, such as chains 32 and 33, from rockinglever 2'7 and having their inner ends provided with straps whichencircle a single eccentric 34 formed as a portion of the neck 12 of theguide roller 10, this eccentric portion of the roll neck being justinside of the reduced end portion which is supported by the bearing 20.The outer end of each pawl is provided with a downwardly projectingblade-like member which immediately overlies a stationary rack mountedon the frame. As may be seen from an inspection of Figure 3, the tworacks 35 and 36 are similar in character, but the teeth formed on theupper faces thereof are oppositely directed. The toothed portions of theracks respectively are slightly inclined, sloping downwardly from theirouter ends toward a central meeting point.

One end of the rocking lever 27 is downturned, as most clearly seen fromFigure 3, and is provided with a sleeve-like portion 27 provided with ahorizontally disposed cylindrical aperture through which extends ahorizontal rod 38. To the end of this rod is secured a member 39, whichmay be designated a detector element or contact element, this elementbeing preferably formed of sheet metal and having curved marginal edges.

It is likewise inclined to the horizontal so that the plane of its lowersurface is substantially parallel at all times with the edge of the beltor apron 11.

In the operation of the mechanism just described, the contact element 39lightly rests upon the edge of the apron 11. Should the apron, however,deviate from its proper path, the detector element 39 willbe eitherallowed to fall or caused to rise, depending upon the direction ofmovement of the apron. Supposing the edge ofthe apron to recede towardthe left, Figure 1, the detector element 39 will fall, thus rotating therocking lever 27 in a clockwise direct-ion about the stud 24.

This movement of rocking lever 27 results in the lowering of the pawl 31and raising of pawl. 30, pawl 31 operatively engaging, as the result ofthis movement, the teeth of rack 35 which immediately underlie the same.Inasmuch as the roller is rapidly rotating, both pawls are in continuallongitudinal oscillatory movement, the inner ends of these pawls beingmounted upon the eccentric 34.

Hence it follows that, as soon as the outer end of pawl 31 is lowered sofar as to come in contact with the rack 36, it will strike one of theteeth of this rack, which tooth acts as an abutment, receiving theendwise thrust of the pawl but preventing its movement. As a result, aforce is exerted upon the neck 12 of the guide roller, tending to swingthe guide roller about the axis of pivot rod 15 and, in this instance,in a clockwise direction (Fig ure 1). By reason of the continued act-ionof l contact with the tooth against which it has just exerted a thrustand is advanced to engage the next adjacent tooth to repeat the thruston the guide roller in the manner .just above described, and thisarrangement of additional teeth and advancement of the guide roller in aclockwise direction will continue until the pawl disengages the teeth ofrack 36 by reason of the inclination of the rack. As a result of thisswinging movement of the guide roller, it is caused to occupy a positioninclined to the path of movement of the apron 11, and the apron, underthe influence of this inclined roller, gradually moves back toward thedetector 89, raising the detector and bringing the pawl 31 back to itsnormal or disengaged position.

Should the apron move toward the right (Figure 1), the detector 39 willbe raised, pawl 80 engaged with rack 35, and the roller given acounter-clockwise rotation, as viewed in Figure 1. This rotation iscontinued until theroller has assumed a position which will cause it tobring about a gradual movement of the apron toward the left, which willcontinue until the apron has reached its correct position.

The means provided, therefore, automatically corrects the position ofthe apron in the machine to which itis applied whenever the apron orbelt moves laterally from its desired position. The device is verysensitive in its operation and is called into action for very slightdeviations of the apron so thatthe apron at no time is permitted to movefrom' its desired position through any appreciable distance. I Theprovision of the eccentric on the roll neck and inside of the bearing-isespecially advantageous inasmuch as it throws the operating pawlsandracks inside of the bearing and into a relatively protected position.Heretofore, as disclosed in my prior patent, an eccentric pin has beenplaced upon the end of the roll supporting shaft in mechanisms of thischaracter.

The form of the invention disclosed in Figures 4 and 5 is moreparticularly de signed for use in connection with machines provided withwebs, aprons, or belts which travel at relatively high speed. It isdesirable in such cases to operate the pawls at a relatively low speedas compared with the speed of travel of the apron or belt, and for thisreason a reduction gearing is interposed between the roller 40 and theeccentric 41, the

eccentric being mounted upon a shaft which is separate and distinct fromthe roller supporting shaft. Thus, in this instance, the

eccentric 41 is mounted on a shaft 42 which is in turn supported in aroller bearing 43 positioned upon the sliding block 44. To the outer endof shaft 42 is keyed a circular disk 45 provided-with an internal gear46,

the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of a pinion 47 keyed on the endof the roll neck v48, which is mounted in anotherbearing provided on theleft hand end of block 44, as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

Rotation of the roll, therefore, results in rotation of the eccentric4l-but at a very considerably reduced speed.

The pawls 49 and 50, respectively, are adapted to cooperate withstationary racks 51 and 52, respectively, in exactly the samemanner asset forth in connection with the form of the invention disclosed. inFigures 1, 2, and 3, these pawls being likewise attached to a rockinglever indicated at 53,

whichlever is provided with a detector 54.

It will be noted that the disk 45 not only serves to carry the internalgear 46 but also acts as a guard for the operating parts of themechanism, preventing operators or objects from accidentally coming incontact withthese rapidly moving parts. This is a high- 1y advantageousfeature when the apparatus is used in connection with such machines aslaundry and ironing machines and the like.

The design of the detector element may be considerably varied inapplying the apparatus to' machines having belts, webs, or aprons ofdifferent materials and characteristics. Thus, in place of the metalplate illustrated, a roller may be substituted, the axis of the rollerbeing inclined to the plane of the apron. In the event that the detectoris used in connection with a paper making machine employing a ratherfragile forming wire, the roller may be coated with rubber in order tominimize the wear on the wire. In some instances it may be desirable touse a cone-shaped detector. Roller bearings may be used with advantagewhenever a detector of the roll type is employed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is 1. In adevice of the class described,in combination, a guide roller, means for supporting the guide roller atone end for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, and meansassociated with the opposite end of the roller for supporting the samefor bodily movement in a horizontal plane and automatically effectingsuch movement, said means comprising a bearing into which the end of theroller projects, an eccentric mounted on the roll neck intermediate theroller and the bearing, pawls mounted upon the eccentric, a rackpositioned adjacent each pawl and adapted to be engaged thereby, arocking lever, a detector connected to said rocking lever and positionedto engage the edge of a web or'apron passing over the roller, andflexible connections between said detector and said pawls adapted tocontrol the engagement of the same with said racks.

2. In a device of the class described, in

combination, a roller, a pinion mounted on the end of the roller torotate therewith, a shaft mounted insubstantial parallelism to theroller axis and carrying an eccentric, an internal gear fixed on saidshaft and meshing with the roller pinion whereby the eccentric isactuated from the roller but at reduced speed, oppositely directed pawlsmounted upon and actuated by said eccentric, a rack associated with eachpawl, and means for selectively bringing said pawls into engagement withsaid racks in accordance with the lateral movements of a belt or apronpassing over said roller.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a guide roller,means for sup porting the guide roller at one end for swinging movementin a horizontal plane, and means associated with the opposite end of theroller for supporting the same for movement in a horizontal plane andautomatically effecting such movement, said means comprising a slidablysupported block, a bearing on the block for supporting the roller neck,a pinion mounted on the roller end beyond the bearing, a shaft rotatablymounted on the block and having its axis in substantial parallelism withthe roller axis, said shaft carrying an eccentric, an internal gearfixed on the shaft and meshing with the said pinion whereby theeccentric is actuated from the roller but at reduced speed, oppositelydirected. pawls mounted upon and actuated by said eccentric, a rackassociated with each pawl, said racks being supported independently ofsaid block, and means for selectively bringing said pawls intoengagement with said racks in accordance with the lateral movements of abelt or apron passing over said roller.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which the internal gearcomprises a solid plane circular disk, the teeth thereof being formed ina rearwardly directed annular flange projecting therefrom.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a guide rollerfor a traveling web or the like, a frame, means supporting the guideroller at one end for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, and meansassociated with the opposite end of'the roller for supporting the samefor bodily movement in a horizontal plane, consequent to said swingingmovement of the roller, and for automatically effecting such movementsin order to adjust the running position of said web, said last mentionedmeans comprising a bearing into which the said opposite end of saidroller projects, a horizontally slidable member for supporting saidbearing, an eccentric adapted to be rotated by said roller, a pair ofoppositely directed pawls carried by said eccentric, a pair of racksmounted on said frame, each of said racks being respectively disposedbeneath one of said pawls and also being downwardly inclined toward theother of said racks, a rocking lever pivotally mounted intermediate itslength on said member above said eccentric, a flexible elementconnecting each arm of said lever respectively with one of said pawls,and a de tector member carried by said rocking lever and adapted toengage an edge of said-web whereby the movement of said web into animproper position upon said roller will automatically control themovement of said member and roller to return said web to correct runningposition.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ai'iix my signature.

WILLIAM J. ASHER.

